Fitment: DB6, DB6 Mk2, similar upgrades available for: DB4, DB5, DBS

While the standard DB5 engine was carried over into the DB6, the ‘Vantage’ specification offered as an optional extra saw some gentle evolution throughout the DB6 production run. Engine numbers with a /V, /VA, /VB and /VC all denote a Vantage engine, in various states of tune.

The /V engine specification was largely the same as the DB5 Vantage option, with triple Weber 45 DCOE carburettors and higher-lift inlet cams, however the compression ratio was further increased to 9.4:1. Five cars were converted to /VA specification by the Aston Martin service department, with upgrades including a DB4GT exhaust cam, larger GT-spec valves, modified valve timing and modified jets in the triple Weber carbs. Further carburettor modifications were denoted as /VB engines, while the final /VC specification featured a modified inlet cam profile to allow for standard valves to be used while still delivering 325 bhp.

Aston Workshop are able to carry out any of the above Vantage-specification upgrades to your DB6 engine. Vantage-spec engines use a standard block, therefore we are able to reuse your original block for the sake of originality. Often, original Aston Martin straight-6 blocks show heavy corrosion once stripped, as well as unacceptable cracks towards the main bearings; if that is the case, we can either repair your original block or supply a brand new in-house developed block that is visually identical to an original but with a number of internal improvements. More details on our in-house produced blocks can be found here.

To carry out an upgrade to Vantage-spec, we will first strip, clean and inspect your current engine. Your cylinder head will then be machined to achieve a perfect match to the block and an increased compression ratio. Fitment of triple Weber 45 DCOE carburettors requires some changes to the throttle linkage as well as various other changes within the engine bay. As the DB6 featured four different versions of the Vantage specification, further modifications may be carried out depending on your personal choices. All of these modifications are carried out, before the engine is reassembled and tested on our dynamometer.

We can carry out the upgrade of your DB6 engine to Vantage specification either by having your car here at the workshop, or on a 'crate' basis where you ship the engine, we carry out the conversion and ship it back to you. Depending on your personal preference we can also fit Vantage badging to your car, while our modern gearbox options (click here for manual or automatic) transform the car even further.

To enquire about any of our enhancements and upgrades, or to discuss a bespoke solution for your car, contact our workshop team at astonworkshop@aston.co.uk or +44 (0) 1207 233 525.